AF Blog — Girls Night

Cuts and colors leading the trends for fall 2023

Y’all have already been killing it in your selfies and TikToks, we’re seeing long, we’re seeing short, and we’re seeing everything in between. This fall looks to be THE SEASON for embracing your own unique hair look, and the confidence on display is honestly inspiring. 

From platinum to plum, the Fox Fam is a rainbow of wearable color this fall. We’ll walk and talk you through the coolest hair colors—and tell you exactly how to get them for yourself! On top of the hues that are making our fall a little hotter are the cuts that we see topping the requests lists again and again. So read on, because we are stoked to share our hot leads and pro tips with y’all.

We’ve been taking notes

We’ve got our eyes on a few different look-makers and from short to long, we’re dialed in on the coifs filling up our feeds, from influencers to red-carpet royalty. From all our trend-watching, we have two words for you: layers & body.

Lucky for us, we have our Foxy influencers who are going to show us how to use AF Hair Dye to use color to get the best-looking layers and the most bodacious body. 

☝️Tip: However you express yourself with your hair, we always recommend that you use our bowls and brushes to help keep your color where you want it. They have grippy bottoms so they stay put—because while you look amazing in color, your countertop… not so much.

Hair trends that are everywhere this fall…and how to make them yours

When you’re talking to your stylist about your next look, ask for a “hush cut”! It’s a way to bring extreme layers and stylish bangs to your hair, at almost any length. This is the way to show off your AF colors, as the layers give your hair the movement that will highlight your lowlights, peekaboos, and tips. A hush cut is a layered look that is designed to give your hair feathery lightness and long curving pieces that look amazing with colors blended throughout. Think a “wolf cut” but grown out into an elegant and feminine style.

For those of you who are all about length, supermodel cuts feature layers that frame your face and allow your hair’s natural bounce and movement to steal the show. Think big and naturally bouncy supermodel hair that is designed to always look effortlessly beautiful, no matter which shoulder they’ve just casually tossed it over. Body, waves and lots of lift through the layers. Hint: it’s the perfect style for strong color accents. 

Not sure which color accent you want to go for? Luckily for our creative Fox Fam, there are a ton of options! With the lux look of money pieces, cheeky peekaboos and trendy tips, feel free to mix and blend your current faves from root to tip.

@arisa_hair in Aquamarine and Phantom Green  

@raekanoa in Poison and Ritual 

For a stylish way to keep long layers out of your face, sweep half of your hair up while leaving two money pieces in front for a sweet, soft look. Pin the upper half back with a big, bold clip and …peekaboo! Peekaboos are flirty and sweet on blonde hair, especially when you choose Virgin Pink, Violet Dream or Frosé for the underlayer. For a punchier style, go Girls’ Night or fan-favorite Purple AF.

A shorter take on layers with natural movement is the lob, or “long bob”. Taking the traditionally shorter bob and letting it hang past your chin gets you this look. To give it the 2023 treatment, texturize it! The textured lob gives you layers to play with and provides choppier front pieces to show off the natural curl in your coif—as well as your makeup ;). So go with layers and let them curve around your chin and shoulders. For the ultimate frame job, add Birkin bangs, the 70’s-inspired light fringe that falls to your eyebrows without being swept to the side.

If you want it a little shorter, take the bob to chin length. This fall the bob and the lob are both on proud display, and both look great with solid colors, especially this year’s blockbuster shade, Barbie blonde. Get it by using Bleach, Please, (pink convertible not included).

@gontscharowaa in Sunset Orange

Braided hair lifts your look to the next level, and for braids devotees who want to decorate their tresses with their fave fall colors, goddess braids are the go-to. This divine style is a bohemian way to transition from summer to fall. With braids that are less tight and more gentle on scalps than other braids styles, they feature loose curls that are practically begging to be decorated with pops of color. For intense color that shows up in updos or loose, make sure to use Bleach, Please first!

Whether you go short, long, or somewhere in between, it’s pretty clear what stands out with these trends: extreme layers will keep a classic look modern, and be a fun way to play with color.

More colors that make true statements

You can never go wrong with a cool Copper and deep Auburn this time of year - it’s giving ‘forest in autumn’ and we’re here for it! For a true Auburn, mix AF’s Ginger Flare with a drop of Purple AF, and if you want a deeper auburn shade, just add more Purple AF. Get your cool copper on with two parts Sunset Orange and three parts Cosmic Sunshine with a drop or two of Purple AF. For a light leaning copper, go lighter on the purple and heavier on Cosmic Sunshine. 

If you love rich colors but prefer a jewel tone, then Blue Jean Baby, Phantom Green, and Purple AF are the hues that you’re going to fall for!

These are some of our ideas, but if you’re ready to take the plunge on a killer color combo, we recommend that you check out the wildly helpful color wheel explanation we laid out for you in August. The whole post is loaded with great info, plus tips on which color combinations complement this fall’s color palette (and you!) best.

Over the next two weeks we will be diving into the best ways to freshen up your look while still caring for your strands, particularly for those who want to go and/or stay dark.

Whatever color you choose this fall, keep the cut up-to-date to truly do your AF colors justice! Let your inner supermodel loose or braid your way to our Fox Fam hall of fame. However you do it, shine your beautiful light and—as always—share your hair change journey with the Fox Fam on your socials by tagging @arcticfoxhaircolor.

Are you ready to say goodbye to your current hair color and switch things up? At Arctic Fox Hair Color, we believe that the best results often emerge from the most unexpected choices 😏. Get ready to dive into the world of "Unlikely Color Cover Ups," where we reveal four unlikely Arctic Fox shades that effortlessly conceal your existing hair color and reveal a STUNNING new look 👏.

1. Lavender Bliss 💜

Have faded blue or green hair that won’t quite go away? Prepare to be blown away by Violet Dream. By layering a VERY diluted Violet Dream over your faded green or blue, you'll experience Lavender Bliss. The blue and green undertones will be tamed into a soft, pastel dream, resulting in a perfect fusion of warmth and coolness that's sure to leave heads turning.

2. Teal Temptation 🌊

Arctic Fox's Aquamarine is a shade that dares to challenge convention. If you’re working with a faded pink or red, this shade will create a stunning contrast that revitalizes your fade. The bold teal hues mixed with the faded tones will create a purple shifting blue shade depending on how intense your color is underneath.

3. Rose Gold Stunner🌹

Brunette bases, we didn’t forget about you. Did you know that some of our shades work over brunette bases as gorgeous tints? Elevate your brown tresses by layering a mixture of Sunset Orange or Ginger Flare mixed with Purple AF. The warmth of our orange shades will give off a beautiful copper tint all on their own, but mixed with Purple AF this will give off a rose gold tint sure to stun. 

4. Slate Gray  🌫️

Got faded purple? Give Sterling a try! This smokey shade will transform into an ashy purple when applied over your faded color. Sterling is your go-to solution for gracefully transitioning from vibrant hues or evening out uneven tones, leaving you with the perfect smokey shade. *This shade will only appear on bases that were previously pre-lightened to a level 9+.

@averyrose1992 in Sterling and Girls Night

At AF, we understand that hair color is a canvas for self-expression, and we aim to offer a palette of possibilities. Not seeing a solution that might work for you? DM us on Instagram for custom color help or email our color specialists for more customized feedback ! 🌈

@rubyhair3 in Wrath, Virgin Pink, Electric Paradise, Sunset Orange

Want to start getting creative with your AF shades and don’t know where to start? Well take a deep breath because you are exactly where you need to be 💕 The last thing we want to do is overwhelm you, so allow us to ease you into some information and a few of my favorite beginner friendly mixes to achieve a custom shade! 

Pro Tip ✨: It is important that before applying a mix of shades to your hair that you perform a strand test to be sure the outcome on your hair is what you’re looking for. It is much easier to adjust the shades in the bowl than it is after you’ve already colored your hair ☺️

Let’s first go over the 5 things to ask yourself before you color your hair and understanding the best AF colors for your undertone, as this is the best place to start, if you’re unsure. Now, if you aren’t familiar with the color wheel, here’s a full explanation on how to easily understand the magic of mixing! Once you’ve got an understanding of this, you’re ready to go.

Purple AF: Purple is a VERY versatile color simply because it’s a combination of warm and cool tones, made with red and blue. Just about any color or mix can include Purple AF for added depth and can also be used for color correcting, fixing brassy tones, adding to blue dye to counteract green results OR you can add a few drops to your conditioner to create your own purple shampoo! Moral of the story, if you’re a custom color addict like us or you’re just beginning your custom color journey, purple is a must-have so let’s jump right in!

For a deep cobalt hue, use a half-and-half ratio of Purple AF and Poseidon, or for a more pigmented shade use Aquamarine instead of Poseidon!

Adding in less purple will achieve this gorgeous blue, so I’d recommend starting with a base of Poseidon and adding in small amounts of Purple AF until you’ve reached your desired shade. 

However, for a more purple leaning shade, I’d recommend a base of Purple AF and slowly incorporating your Poseidon for a “blurple”! 

Now, if you didn’t know already, purples look SO good with other purples and Purple AF is the perfect shade to punch up our other purple shades. For example, here is a base of Girl’s Night + Purple AF for a vibrant indigo:

@ashley_the_fairy_color_mother

More Purple AF mixes: 

Basically, Purple AF is a necessity when it comes to mixing and can also be used to cover leftover green, red, orange, or blue tones that simply won't budge 🍇  💅

Pro Tip ✨: If you haven’t noticed it by now, when mixing, we suggest using the lighter shade as your base and adding the more pigmented shade in smaller amounts to not overpower your lighter base shade. This allows you to control the colors easily! 

Ritual: This color is a gorgeous burgundy all on its own, but today we wanted to showcase some of the awesome mixes you can create with this versatile tone! Whether you’re looking for a deep, dark red, or a soft, smoky pink, the possibilities are limitless. 

Base of Poison and added in Ritual for this hot look 🤤

Believe it or not, this mix of Sunset Orange, with a bit of Cosmic Sunshine and a drop of Ritual created this must have ginger shade 🤩

A moment for Ritual alone because she’s stunning 👏

🤤 Okay okay okay. We still have so many mixes to get to! 🏃‍♀️

How about a base of Ritual and Wrath for when you’re feeling a merlot moment? I’ll cheers to that 🍷

More Ritual Mixes: 

Note: Arctic Mist is not a dye, toner, or lightening product. This diluter will have no effect on the hair if applied by itself - it’s meant to be mixed with other colors to create custom shades.

Up next… Aquamarine! 

Aquamarine is one of our most pigmented blues with aquamarine/teal undertones. If you’re looking for an easy to mix shade, this is it! Starting strong with one of my favorite Aquamarine mixes: 
Aquamarine + Phantom Green 🌱: The jewel toned green can be achieved by combining two super pigmented shades! Starting with Phantom Green, slowly incorporate small drops at a time of Aquamarine for an unreal shade, guaranteed to turn heads.

I mean, c’mon! …

If you’re wanting more of a blue mix, we have this Poseidon + Aquamarine mix, which is a base of Poseidon and slowly incorporates Aquamarine until you get to your preferred custom shade.

For an extra deep blue, try Blue Jean Baby + Aquamarine 👇 Lots of Blue Jean Baby and small add-ins of Aquamarine. 

Maybe you want something on the lighter/softer side? PERFECT because this next mix is just that and it’s gorgeous! 

Diluted Aquamarine and Neverland (base of Neverland + drops at a time of Aquamarine + Diluted using our Arctic Mist Diluter) 

You could also try adding in a bit of Iris Green to your Aquamarine + Neverland mix (without diluter).

One of the last shades that I’d like to showcase is Sunset Orange. It may not seem like it at first, but Sunset Orange is a surprisingly versatile shade and can be used in lots of different mixes for custom colors! As you may or may not know, she is BRIGHT and on her own, this shade is a jaw dropper. However, let’s unveil some of these mixes, shall we? 😏 Buckle up, Fox Fam.. She’s coming in HOT!

Sunset Orange + small drop of Cosmic Sunshine.

Sunset Orange + 2 drops or so of Cosmic Sunshine

Sunset Orange + Purple AF for a rich red

Looking for an even spicier red? How about a base of Poison + Sunset Orange added in? 

Sunset Orange + Electric Paradise? Yes, please! This mix can be used to achieve that peachy vibe 🍑

I hope you enjoyed these simple custom mixes and we can’t wait to make more of these! 

Let us know your favorite color recipes with Sunset Orange, Ritual, Aquamarine and Purple AF in the comments!

Need more inspo pics before making a decision? Check out our Instagram for tons of inspiration! And of course, if you ever have any questions or need help mixing up the perfect custom shade, send us an email at support@arcticfoxusa.com. We’re always here to help 🫶 

 Happy coloring, Fox Fam! 🎨



Image Credit: chris0712

Pastel hues have had us all in a chokehold for as long as we can remember. And with summer right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to go for a shade that looks oh, so pretty even when it fades. From blues, to greens, to purples and pinks, the color options are truly endless! And don’t worry, Fox, we’re here to help you safely get your dream head of pastel from start to finish.

Image credit: @mynameislanes

Step 1: Bleach, Please

The first step to going pastel, is to completely strip your hair of any color. Pastel will only show up on a level 10 platinum blonde or lighter! Depending on your current shade, you might need a few bleach treatments to get your hair to the appropriate level. You can safely bleach at home with our Bleach, Please Lightening Kit, but if you don’t fully trust yourself, or your hair is already fairly damaged and contains previous color treatments, you’ll want to head to a salon first! We don’t recommend using Bleach, Please to remove color from hair - doing so can cause unexpected color results or permanent staining of the hair! If you do need to remove color, please use a color remover formulated for the type of hair color in your hair. 

Bleach, Please can lighten your hair up to 8 levels and includes a 35 Volume Developer. Its 3 oz tube of violet-toned bleach is packed with tons of ingredients that help protect and repair your hair during the bleaching process. Although we’ve formulated Bleach, Please to be as safe and healthy as possible, bleaching will still damage your hair to an extent. Bleach opens up the hair cuticle to remove pigment from the strand, which can result in a dry, rough feeling on your strands. Before and after treatment, nourish your hair with our Resurrected Shampoo and Conditioner, which is color-safe and sulfate-free, to keep your strands as moisturized as possible. 

Carefully follow the instructions on the Bleach, Please kit to safely color your hair, or read our Bleach, Please spotlight here, for more detailed instructions. Once you’ve let the bleach sit for 30-45 minutes, rinse it out and see if you’ve reached your desired result! If your hair is dark and you need several treatments to get to a level 10, make sure to space out your lightening sessions at least a week apart.

Image credit: alexis_hair__

Step 2: Do or Dye 

Now comes the fun part! 

Arctic Fox hair colors are formulated to be a bit thicker due to their conditioning properties, so you want to make sure that you divide your hair into small sections and fully saturate each with color to achieve your desired shade. 

Arctic Mist Diluter is your BFF when it comes to going pastel. Start with Arctic Mist as your base, then add in your shade little by little until you get the color of your dreams. The lighter you’d like to go, the less your color ratio will be to Arctic Mist. Remember, you can always add more Arctic Mist to lighten your mix to get that perfect pastel hue, so go slowly! 

If you want a one-step application to a pastel, check out our very own pastel formula favs, Frosé, Neverland, Periwinkle, and Girls Night! The best part about going pastel is how truly endless the possibilities are. You can mix, match, lighten, or darken, and as long as your base is at the appropriate level, you’ll see those light hues shine through! 

Image Credit: neutraljacqueline

Step 3: Color Care

Now that you’ve got the pretty pastel, hair care is a must! Care for your color in the shower with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner duo (try our Resurrected Formula for color-safe treatment), and cool water. 

One thing to note is that pastels are not as pigmented as other dyes, so in the coming weeks, give your locks a quick refresh by adding a few drops of dye to your conditioner in the shower, or giving your entire head of hair another coat of dye for a more pigmented look. Pastels fade in the most stunning way, so you can let it go or touch it up, depending on the look you’re going for. 

Shop our Perfect Pastel Starter Kit, find your next color, and show us those hues, pretty please!

Image Credit: princessmei        

Image Credit: ashleymarieblake

Image Credit: salemmooncosmetics     

Image Credit: la_main_d_argent

So you’re looking for some refreshing inspo to spice up that split dye? Maybe you just want to go for a little pop of color? 👀

Whatever the case may be, we got you covered with 15 of our current favorite hair color combinations!👇

1. Space Cowgirl + Virgin Pink

@evelina.forsell 

2. Sunset Orange + Cosmic Sunshine

@lauren_loveslocks

3. Neon Moon + Aquamarine

@0allas

4. Sunset Orange, Cosmic Sunshine and Neon Moon (pairs SO well with a natural shade 😍)!

@lyn_bax

5. Diluted Poseidon and Iris Green 🤤

@lizzienowire

6. Half Virgin Pink and half dark brown? Yes, please! 

@colorlikenoother

7. Sunset Orange + Virgin Pink

@elle_n0r

8. Violet Dream + Sunset Orange

@woke.nikki

9. Neon moon + Iris Green

@jphair_st.helens

10. Cosmic Sunshine + Purple AF

@zoe_la_leigh

11. Diluted Sunset Orange + Poison

@theeglamnaija

12. Girls Night and Purple AF

@hadar_kawaii_hair

13. Virgin Pink and Cosmic Sunshine

@kaylahadlington

14. Pop of Cosmic Sunshine ✨

@dxnx.elle 

15. Pop of diluted Virgin Pink

@slm.beauty

✨ Pro tip: Using COLD water when rinsing will help to prevent some of the bleeding onto another color! 

Have a stunning color combination of your own to share? Please feel free to do so below! We’d love to see 🥰 In the meantime, we’re here if you have any questions. Stay Foxy 🦊❤️